Dental bridge



J. TURRO DENTAL BRIDGE June 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1949 I NV EN TOR.

John Tamra June 19, 1951 i TURRQ 2,557,899

DENTAL BRIDGE Filed April 25, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

John. Turro A'ITD R N EYS Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE DENTAL BRIDGE John Turro, Atlanta, Ga.

Application April 25, 1949, Serial No. 89,410

- 1 Claim. 1 My present invention relates to an improved dental bridge and more particularly to the means employed in securing a tooth to the bridge formed between one or more natural teeth.

According to my invention I form an artificial replacement tooth of suitable shape and material with a rear horizontal slot and a squared counterbore to receive a T-shaped inlay of precious metal and disposed angularly to the vertical medial line of the tooth.

Where more than one tooth is to be employed the :backings of the inlays may be joined as by soldering and the end teeth of the bridge are secured to the adjacent natural teeth by soldering the inlays to a crown on the rear surface of the natural teeth.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention according to the best mode I have thus far devised but it will be understood that various changes and alterations may be made in the exemplified structure without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a bridge showing the teeth of my invention secured to two spaced natural teeth.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of one tooth embodying my inlay support.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the tooth and inlay.

Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of one tooth showing the inlay receiving slot.

Figure '7 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the tooth.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the inlay.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the inlay.

Referring now to the drawings wherein I have illustrated the present preferred form of my invention I have illustrated a pair of spaced natural teeth 2 having roots 4, and in securing the hereinafter described bridge to the teeth I provide on the rear face thereof, conventional crowns of precious metal.

Several replacement teeth according to my invention may be employed and are indicated herein generally as 8, it being understood that the teeth may be formed of porcelain or plastic or other suitable material and are formed to the necessary shape to conform to that of the natural teeth replaced thereby.

These teeth 8 have concave upper surfaces l0 to fit snugly and comfortably against the gum, and have in the type of tooth shown herein, a lower cutting edge l2.

In the rear portion of each tooth I provide a transverse horizontally disposed slot l4 angled downwardly with relation to the vertical medial line of the tooth, and centrally of the wall of the slot I provide a squared counterbore It, the inner wall of which indicated as I 8 is angled up and away from the said vertical medial line of the tooth.

To fit into this counterbored slot or recess in the tooth I employ an inlay 20 of precious metal and formed of T-shape, the cross member of which has a curved outer wall 2| which is conformed to the rear curve of the tooth after insertion. The wall 2i terminates in a flange 22 which fits into the peripheral recess 23 about the edge of the slot i4, and the upright or shank portion 24 of the inlay is squared to fit into the counterbore l2, the end wall of the shank being slightly angled to bear against the wall l8.

After being fitted and secured into the slot and bore of the teeth, the inlays are soldered to each other, and as stated the end inlays are soldered to the crown backings on the spaced natural teeth 2.

From the above description it will be apparent that the teeth and inlays therefore according to my invention will be securely associated into an integral bridge, and due to the position of the inlay in and about the slot of the teeth will provide a strong support so that when biting or chewing the pressure will be angularly of the vertical medial line of the teeth as well as the horizontal medial line thereof, and the likelihood of breaking off one or more teeth of a bridge will be materially lessened.

Furthermore by the use of the inlay according to my disclosure the solid metal backing of the teeth will be invisible from the front, and the bridge is also connected integrally with the crowns secured conventionally on the natural supporting teeth.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A bridge for artificial teeth adapted for use with natural supporting teeth comprising a plurality of artificial teeth, each tooth having a rear transverse slot that is angled downwardly with relation to the vertical medial line of the tooth and a square shaped central counterbore having the inner wall thereof angled upwardly away from the vertical medial line of the tooth, and. a

v I 2,557,899 "a 3 4 T-shaped inlay in the slot and counterbore, each REFERENCES CITED Inlay bemg shaped to to w Slot and The following references are of record in the counterbore and the rear of 1ts assoclated tooth, file of this patent;

a crown for each of the natural supporting teeth,

the inlays of the artificial teeth at their abutting 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS portions being soldered to each other and the in- Number Name Date lays also being soldered to the said crowns. 1,136,184 Todd et a1 Apr- 20, 1915 JOHN TURRO. 2,269,585 Feldman et a1 Jan. 13, 1942 

